Fire-extinguisher.



J. T. HARROP, JR.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 6. 1917.

1,299,721 Patented A ma-8, 1919.

JAMES T. HARROP, JR.,

ans

a erred OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

Specificatienof Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

Application filed September 6, 1917. Serial No. 189,926.

valve mechanism for controlling the opening of the extinguisher to permit the discharge of the fire extinguishing compound; to provide improved means adapted to be automatically or manually operated for controlling said valve mechanism; to provide valve mechanism and. controlling means of this kind which is particularly suitable for use with the kind of extinguisher where the pressure for discharging the extinguishing compound is obtained by the chemical action resulting from mixing the contents of a container, located within the receptacle containing the extinguishing compound, with said compound at the time the extinguisher is to be used; and to provide improved means connecting said valve mechanism with the said container whereby the opening-of said valve mechanism automatically actuates said container so as to cause the mixing of the contents thereof with the extinguishing compound.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention isfshown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of fire extinguisher equipped with the improved operating mechanism. v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the valve mechanism which is operated by the hose.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the spring member which is adapted to automatically open one of the discharge openings of said extinguisher.

Figs is a detail of the acid container as viewed from the plane of the line H of Fig. 1.

In the construction shown in the draw ings, the improvements have been represented as applied to a conventional form of extinguisher of the type wherein the fire extinguishing compound is discharged by the pressure created through the mixing with J the compound of an acid which results in a chemical action involving the production of gas.

The specific embodiment herein illustrated comprises a receptacle 1 having discharge openings 2 and 3 adapted to be controlled i by valves or plugs l and 5 respectively, which valves are connected by a cable 6 so as to control the tilting of an acid container 7.

The receptacle 1 is shown to be of cylindrical shape, but it will be understood that in practice the shape may vary, depending upon the use that is to be made of the extinguisher. It is preferably of metallic construction, and at its upper end is provided i with a filling opening 8 which is adapted to be closed by a cap 9 havlng a screw-thread connection with the receptacle.

The acid container 7 is in the form of a I glass bottle supported in a rack 10 mounted on a rod or shaft 11 which is journaled at its ends in bearings 12 located on the sides of the receptacle 1. The rack 10 is preferably of wire construction and is shaped so as to firmly grip the bottle and prevent it from becoming dislodged even when in an inverted position. A suitable plugorstop per 13 loosely rests on the neck of the bottle and keeps the same closed when the-bottle is in its upright position. This plug is so thaped that it will readily drop from the neck of the bottle when the latter is inverted, and allow the contents to be discharged into the receptacle 1. v

The cable 6' is connected to arms 1% herein shown as formed on'the under side of the rack 10 and extends through an eyelet 15 on the valve 4; and is fastened atthe other end to the valve 5. The length of the cable is" such that when the valves 4 and 5 are in their closed positions, the container 7 is held in its upright vertical position as shown in the figures. However, when either or both of the valves 4 and 5 are retracted so as to open their respective discharge opei ings, the slack thus produced in the cable allows the container to be urged by gravity into an inverted position, so that the con tents thereof are discharged into the receptacle 1.

The discharge opening 2 is herein shown of fire near the extinguisher, so that the fire extinguishing compound is thrown downwardly and outwardly in a manner-similar to that accomplishedby the'ordinary sprinln ler head. The valve 4 is provided with a stem 16 connected to a spring member '17 which normally urges the valve at into its retracted position to open the discharge nozzle 2. The valve t, however, is retained seated through the spring member 17 being held in its contracted position by a fusible link 18 of the usual type. At normal temperatures, this link hassufiicient strength to restrain the action of the spring 17, but under a temperature in excess of normal, caused by a fire in the vicinity of the extinguisher, the link becomes weakened and allows the spring 17 to expand and retract the valve 4.

A rotatable wing device 19 of any of the usual forms is mounted under the nozzle 2, and under the influence of a. jet issuing from the nozzle 2 rotates and spreads the fire extinguishing compound.

The shifting of the valve 5 for opening and closing the discharge opening 3 is controlled by a hose 20. A nipple or other fitting 21 is interposed in the hose 20 and is connected by flexible and extensible tubing 22 to a fitting 23 which forms the discharge opening 3. A pair of arms 2st and 25 are hinged together at their inner ends 26 and are connected at their outer ends to the nip ple 21 and the valve 5 respectively. These arms constitute an extensible member which is adapted to hold the valve 5 in position to close the discharge opening 3 when the hose 20 is placed in its inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 1 and to retract the valve 5 for opening said discharge opening when the hose20 is shifted into an operative position for directing the discharge of the fire extinguishing compound. A pair of links 27 connect the fittings 21 and 23 on the outside and coac-t with the arms 24 and 25 to insure the proper shifting of the valve 5.

Spring clips or other holding members 28 are mounted on the side of 'the'receptacle 1 for the purpose of engaging the hose 20 and holding it in its inoperative position atthe side of the receptacle.

Wire screens 29 and-30 are arranged within the receptacle 1 adjacent to the discharge openings 2 and 3 respectively, for the purpose of screening the compound as it is discharged, and prevent choking or clogging of the discharge openings.

The operation of the device herein shown and described is as follows:

The valves 4 and 5 are seated in the re spective discharge nozzles or openings 2 and 3, the valve 5 being held in its closed position by placing the hose 20 in the osition shown in Fig. 1 and the valve 4 being held in its closed position by placing the fusible link 10 on the spring 17. The receptacle 1 is filled with the desired fire extinguishing compound, and the container 7 is likewise filled with a suitable acid. The cover 9 is replaced on the receptacle 1 and the receptacle suspended from suitable hangers.

If fire occurs in the vicinity of the extinguisher, the heat therefrom causes the link 18 to fuse and release the spring 17 so that it expands and retracts the valve t. The slack thus produced in the cable 6 allows the container 7 to be tilted to an inverted position so as to discharge the contents thereof into the receptacle 1. A chemical action takes place, which, as is well known in devices of this kind, produces a gas which serves to force the fire extinguishing compound out through the discharge opening 2.

If, on the other hand, it is desired to operate the extinguisher manually, the hose 20 is withdrawn from the clips 28, and in moving it to direct the discharge of the fire extinguishing compound, the portion adjacent to the casing assumes a horizontal position as indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 2. This causes the arms 24 and 25 coacting with the links 27 to retract the valve 5 and open the discharge opening 3. The consequent slacking of the cable 26 allows the container 7 to be tilted, with a resultant action as just explained in connection with the retraction of the valve 4.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A fire extinguisher, comprising a receptacle having a discharge opening, a hose connected to said discharge, a fitting interposed in said hose adjacent to said discharge, a valve for said discharge, a pair of arms hinged together and connected to said fitting and valve respectively, said arms being adapted to retract said valve when said hose is moved into an operative position for directing the discharge of the fire extinguishing compound, and to cause said valve to close said discharge when said hose is moved into an inoperative position.

2. A fire extinguisher, comprising a receptacle having a discharge opening, a hose connected to said discharge, a fitting interposed in said hose adjacent to said discharge, a valve for said discharge, a pair of arms hinged together and connected to said fitting and valve respectively, said arms being adapted to retract said valve when said hose is moved into an operative position for directing the discharge of the fire extinguishing compound and to cause said valve to close said discharge when said hose is moved into an inoperative position, and means ooacting with said arms and adapted to guide said hose into and out of its operative position for the purpose of insuring the proper shifting-of said valve.

3. A fire extinguisher, comprising a receptacle having a discharge opening, a hose connected to said discharge, a fitting interposed in said hose adjacent to said discharge, a valve for said discharge, a pair of arms hinged together and connected to said fitting and valve respectively, said arms being adapted to retract said valve when said hose is moved into an operative position for directing the discharge of the fire extinguishing compound and to cause said valve to close said discharge when said hose is moved into an inoperative position, and a link con necting said fitting with said receptacle so as to guide said hose into and out of its operative position for the purpose of insuring the proper shifting of said valve.

4. A fire extinguisher,'cbmprising a receptacle, a discharge opening, a valve for said discharge located within said receptacle and normally urged to close said discharge, other means for retracting said valve to open said discharge, a container mounted within said receptacle and normally urged to discharge its contents into said receptacle, and a connection between said valve and container adapted to hold said container in position to prevent the discharge of the contents thereof when said valve is closed and to permit the discharge of the contents of said container when said valve is opened.

5. A fire extinguisher, comprising a receptacle having a dis-charge opening, a valve for said discharge, a hose connected to said discharge, means connecting said valve with said hose whereby the movement. of said hose into an operative position for directing the discharge of the fire extinguishing compound automatically retracts said valve for opening said discharge, acontainer mounted in said receptacle, and a connection between said valve and said container adapted to be actuated by said valve for causing said container to discharge the contents thereof into said receptacle when said valve is retracted.

6. A fire extinguisher, comprising a receptacle having a discharge opening, a valve for said discharge, a hose connected to said discharge, means connecting said valve with said hose whereby the movement of said hose into an operative position for directing the discharge of the fire extinguishing compound automatically retracts said valve for opening said discharge, a container tilt-ably mounted in said receptacle and normally urged into a position to discharge the contents thereof into said receptacle, a fiexible connection between said valve and said container adapted to hold said container in an upright position when said valve is closed and to permit said container to be tilted to discharge the contents thereof when said valve is opened.

' 7.7 A fire extinguisher, comprising a receptacle having a discharge opening, a valve for said discharge, a hose connected to said discharge, means connecting said valve with said hose whereby the movement of said hose into an operative position for directing the discharge of the fire extinguishing compound antomatically retracts said valve for opening said discharge, a shaft rotatably mounted near the top of said receptacle and disposed transversely thereof, a rack carried by said shaft, a container supported in said rack, a cable connecting said valve with said shaft and adapted to hold said container in an upright. position when said .valve is closed and to permit said container to be shifted by gravity to an inverted position when saidvalve is opened.

8. A fire extinguisher, comprising a receptacle, a container mounted in the top thereof and normally urged into a position to discharge the contents thereof into said receptacle, a discharge nozzle for said receptacle, a valve adapted to close said discharge nozzle, a connection between said valve and said container adapted to hold said container in an upright position when said valve is closed, and to permit said container to be shifted into a position to discharge the contents thereof whensaid valve is opened, means normally urging said valve into a re tracted position for opening said nozzle, anda fusible member adapted to hold said means in a position to cause said valve to close said discharge nozzle.

9. A fire extinguisher, comprising a receptacle, a container mounted in the top thereof and normally urged into a position to discharge the contents thereof into said receptacle, a discharge nozzle for said receptacle, a valve adapted to close said discharge nozzle, a connection between said valve and said container adapted to hold said container in an upright position when said valve is closed and to permit said container to be shifted into a position to discharge the contents thereof when said vvalve is opened, a spring member normally urging said valve into a retracted position, and a fusible link adapted to hold said spring in its contracted position so as to cause said valve to close said discharge nozzle.

10. A fire extinguisher, comprising a receptacle having two discharge openings leading therefrom, valves adapted to close said discharges, a container mounted within said receptacle and normally urged into a position to discharge the contents thereof into said receptacle, a connection leading from each of said valves to said containerand adapted to hold said container in a position to prevent the discharge of the contents thereof when said valves are closed,

automatic means for opening one of said valves, and manually controlled means for opening the other of said valves.

,11. A fire extinguisher, comprising a reend to said container and at the other end to one of said valves and having sliding connection with the other of said valves, said cable being adapted to hold said container in a position to prevent the discharge of the contents thereof when said valves are closed, automatic means for opening one of said valves, and manually controlled means for opening the other of said valves.

12. A fire extinguisher, comprising a receptacle having two discharge openings leading therefrom, valves adapted to close said openings, a container mounted Within said receptacle and normally urged into a position to discharge the contents thereof into said receptacle, a cable connected at one end to said container and at the other end to one of said valves and having sliding connection with the other of said valves, said cable being adapted to hold said container in a position, to prevent the discharge of the contents thereof when said valves are closed, a hose connected to one ofsaid discharge openings, means connecting the valve for said one discharge opening with said hose, whereby the movement of said hose into an operative position for directingthe discharge of the fire extinguishing compound automatically retracts said valve, other means normally urging said other valve toward a retracted position to open the respective discharge, and a fusible member holding said other means in a restrained position so as to urge said valve to close said other discharge opening.

Signed at Chicago this 4th day of September, 1917.

JAMES T. HARROP, J11.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

